Tough schedule awaits Chiefs

The NFL powers-to-be certainly did their part in making the season beyond difficult for the Kansas City Chiefs.

When the NFL released its 2015 schedule on Tuesday, it seems all the Chiefs need are a blindfold and cigarette.

The Chiefs open with three of their first four games on the road. They play a Thursday night game in Week 2 — against chief rival Denver no less — and also before their bye week they have to travel across the pond for a London game that all teams abhor.

If the Chiefs somehow survive the first half of the schedule in a semblance of one piece, they have a second half that includes five of their six AFC West divisional games.

In other words, Andy Reid and the Chiefs have their work cut out for them.

Here is the schedule:

• Sept. 13 — at Houston. The Texans do have quarterback problems and they no longer have Andre Johnson at wide out. But it’s scary to think about Kansas City’s woeful offensive line trying to stop J.J. Watt and Jadaveon Clowney, who is expected to be a contributor after missing almost all of his rookie year with an injury.

• Sept. 17 — Denver. Scarce little time to prepare for Payton Manning. The only saving grace is that it’s at home.

• Sept. 28 — at Green Bay. This game should be on Thanksgiving Day because Aaron Rodgers will carve up the Chiefs like a turkey.

• Oct. 4 – at Cincinnati. The Bengals aren’t much on the road, but this game is in Cincy. Pretty tough first four games.

• Oct. 11 — Chicago. The Bears are rebuilding. This is one the Chiefs have to have.

• Oct. 18 — at Minnesota. If the Vikings get rid of Adrian Peterson like many expect, they can steal one on the road.

• Oct. 25 — Pittsburgh. The Chiefs always struggle with the Steelers.

• Nov. 1 — Vs. Detroit at London. This comes down to which team least detests traveling across the ocean. A toss-up.

• Nov. 8 — Thank God, a bye week to recover from a brutal first half.

• Nov. 15 — at Denver. An automatic loss.

• Nov. 22 — at San Diego. The Chiefs won there last year, but don’t expect them to catch lightning in a bottle again.

• Nov. 29 — Buffalo. If the Bills can find a quarterback, they could be a playoff team. That defense is menacing.

• Dec. 6 — at Oakland. The Chiefs owe the Raiders one. That game in Oakland last year cost them a playoff berth.

• Dec. 13 — San Diego. It seems these teams always split.

• Dec. 20 — at Baltimore. No chance against that tough Ravens defense.

• Dec. 27 — Cleveland. This should be a low-scoring slugfest. Any chance Johnny Manziel will be quarterbacking for the Browns? I doubt it. The guy is a bust.

• Jan 3 — Oakland. Both teams will be out of it. This should be a KC win.

The Chiefs have addressed some needs in the offseason, but still way too many holes to fill. Prediction — 6-10.